Vanguard buys former Drexel plant in North Carolina
CONOVER, N.C. – Vanguard Furnishings has acquired a former Drexel Furnishings manufacturing plant in Morganton, N.C. Recognized domestically as Drexel Plant #60, the 163,000-square-foot manufacturing unit will probably be restored, refurbished and stocked with new gear.
“This plant has a wealthy historical past and a perfect footprint for making customized furnishings,” mentioned Vanguard President Andy Bray. “The constructing is on one degree, has excessive ceilings and can enable Vanguard to effectively warehouse supplies and ship completed furnishings.”
The plant will create as much as 150 new jobs and will probably be used to fabricate case items and fabric. Operations are set to start round April.
Excessive demand and provide chain points prompted the choice to increase domestically.
“Regardless of the issues it has created, one good factor arising from provide chain points is the reemergence of U.S. manufacturing,” mentioned Bray. “We need to absolutely management the supplies and the standard. And manufacturing nearer to our clients reduces transportation prices and supply time.”
“Vanguard has outgrown its potential to fulfill demand with its present manufacturing services,” he mentioned. “The fourth quarter of 2021 was the most important delivery interval in our 53-year historical past, and we nonetheless have a really giant backlog. There’s regular demand for prime quality customized upholstery and case items.”
Bray mentioned the Morganton plant was chosen due to its craftsmen group.
“The area people has a whole lot of generational craftsmen with sawdust of their blood. A lot of our greatest artisans and craftsmen presently make the 30-mile journey to our Conover headquarters on daily basis and are thrilled on the prospect of not having to commute as far. This can be a traditional win-win. We create jobs and with expanded capability and shorten lead-times for our sellers and their clients.”
The family-owned Vanguard presently employs greater than 600 individuals. The corporate operates six manufacturing vegetation and has a 40,000-square-foot showroom in Excessive Level.